Clock.



S. ARONSON.

GLOOK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1913.

1,099,1 10, PatentedJune 2, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. ARONSON.

CLOCK.

A PPLIUATION FILED AUG..11, 1913.

v Patented June 2, 1914.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAUL ARONSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELMER E. WILKINSON, O-F

- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLOCK.

time pieces, and particularly to so-called keyless clocks, also to means for securing clocks and the like to a suitable support.

My invention comprises improved means for winding themain-spring of a clock, and

for setting the hands of a clock, by rota-- tion of the clock case, and also comprises improved means, particularly applicable to automobile clocks and the like, for securing such clocks to a suitable base.

My invention comprises improvements upon the winding and setting mechanism for clocks illustrated and described in the application of E. E. Wilkinson and myself fol Letters Patent filed June 5, 1912, Serial No. 701,748.

The objects of my invention are to improve the winding and setting mechanism of so-called keyless clocks, to relieve the handdriving train of the clock of the load of the setting mechanism, normally, to improve the general construction of keyless clocks, and to provide improved means for fastening clocks in place.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the inner and outer cases of a clock embodying my invention, the winding and setting mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 shows a'central longitudinal scction'of the clock, the parts being in position for the setting of the hands. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the clock on the line wa2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 except that the parts are shown in normal position, the setting mechanism being disengaged from the hand-setting train, and the winding mechanism being in condition for operation. Fig. 5 shows a detail side elevation of the move Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August '11, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 784,208.

ment-frame and spring winding and handsetting parts carried thereby. Fig. 6 shows a face view of the clock. Fig. 7 shows a side View of the clock attachedto a suitable base which is shown in section, a portion of the base being broken away to show the means for securing the clock to the support. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of theclock showing the said fastening means. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the support for the clock, showing the bracket with which the fastening means of the clock engages. Fig. 10 shows a bottom view of the movement case removed from the outer case of the clock, and Fig. 11 is an end view of the outer case with the movement case and parts carried thereby removed.

The clock herein illustrated and described, like the clock of the said Wilkinson and Aronson application Serial No. 701,748, has its movement mounted in an inner case, itself mounted to oscillate in an outer case, and also to move axially to a certain extent within such outer case. With the movement case in its inner position, the hand setting mechanism is disengaged from the handdriving train, but the main-spring winding mechanism is in condition for operation, and the main-spring may be wound by oscillating the movement case back and forth in the outer case. When the movement case is drawn out slightly with respect to the outer case, the main-spring winding mechanism is disengaged, and the hand setting mechanism is engaged with the hand-driving train, and the hands of the clock may then be set by oscillating the movement case within the outer case.

In the drawings, 1 designates the base plate of the clock and 2 the outer case, segured to and in effect forming a part of the ase.

3 designates the inner or movement case, within which is mounted the dial 1, the movement plates 5, 6 and 7, and the mainspring barrel 8.

I have not in the drawings indicated all of the gearing for transmitting motion from the main-spring tothe hands of the clock, as such gearing forms no portion of the present invention. However, by preference, the mechanism of the clock is of the cured to the base 1 of the clock, this pin 11 projecting through a slot 13 in the back 9 of the movement case 3. A spiral spring 1 1 is connected at one end to this pin 11 and at the other end to a post 15 working within a slot 10 of plate 10, fitting within an aperture 16 in base plate 9, and secured to a spring housing 15; which housing is located between plate 12 and base 1 and is ro-. tatably mounted upon the boss 12 of plate 12; the arrangement being such that when the movement case 3 is oscillated in a clock-. wise direction such oscillation is opposed by the spring 1 1, and as soon as the movement case is released such spring will move the movement case back to first position, by reason of the connection of such spring 141 to post 15, and by reason of the engagement of such post 15 with the hole 16 of the movement case 9. This insures that normally, and except when the clock is being wound or the hands set, the dial shall be in proper position.

17 designates the main-spring-ratchet wheel, secured to the inner end of the mainspring (the latter being within barrel 8 as usual) in the usual manner, and rotatably mounted.

18 designates a rotatably mounted springwinding lever, mounted to rotate about the axis of ratchet wheel 17 and held between movement plate 7 and the base 9 of the movement case 3, the side of which lever 18 is engaged by the pin 11 when the parts are in winding position. Lever 18 is provided with a spring-pressed ratchet 19 adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 17. The usual holding ratchet 20 for the main spring is also provided, and a spring 21 is provided for returning the lever 18 when the latter is operated to wind the main-spring.

The operation of winding the mainspring is. as follows: The parts being in the position indicated in Fig. 4, the movement case 3 i oscillated or ratcheted back and forth by means of the bezel-ring 3, the range of such oscillatory movement being limited by the slot 10 in which the post 15. works, and also by the slot 13 in which the post or pin 11 works, and during each clockwise movement of the movement case the pin 11, engaging the side of lever 18,

causes said lever 18 to move it ratchet 19, and so communicating such motion to the ratchet wheel 17 and so winding up the main-spring; while during the return or :anti-clockwise movement of the movement case the lever 18 is drawn back by its spring 21, the ratchet 19 moving idly over the teeth of ratchet wheel 17, the ratchet 20 holding the ratchet wheel 17 against return movement.

For setting the hands, the movement case 3 is arranged to be drawn forward or out- .ward, slightly, so as to bring a gear 26 on a shaft 27 carried by such movement case into engagement with a suitable gear 28 of the hand-driving train. This shaft 27 is provided with a gear 29 in mesh with a segmental gear 30 carried by the plate 12. Gears 29 and 30 are in constant mesh, but normally, and as indicated in Fig. 1, gears 26 and 28 are not in mesh; the movement of the clock being thereby, normally, relieved of any friction of hand-setting mechanism.

WVhen the movement case 3 is drawn out in 3 being first drawn out, and then (if the hands are to be moved forward) rotated in a clockwise dlrectlon to about the limit of movement of the movement case, and then .pushed in again far enough to disengage gears 26 and 28, and then rotated backward and then drawn out again to bring gears 26 and 28 into engagement, after which the 'movement case is again rotated clockwise to the limit of its movement or through a less distance, as may be required, after wh1ch the movement case 1s again pushed 1n; and

so 011 until the hands are in the desired position. Drawing the movement case forward or outward in this manner disengages the spring winding lever 18 from. the pin 11, so, that the mainspring is not wound by the hand-setting movement. The hands may also be turned backward by drawing the movement case out far enough to disengage the lever 18 from pin 11, but not far enough to engage gears 26 and 28, then rotating the movement case clockwise to its limit of movement, drawing out the movement case still farther to bring gears 26 and 28 into engagement, and then rotating the movement case anti-clockwise to its limit of motion, then pushing the move-ment case in sufficiently to disengage gears 26 and 28, but

not far enough to engage lever 18 with pin i .be seen, that the movement case may be drawn out for hand setting as described, but will be returned to normal position by the spring 31 whenever the outward pull on the bezel ring 3 is relaxed. If such outward pull should be relaxed when the dial is not in normal position, the spring 14 will return the dial to normal position. The mainspring winding lever 18 is broad, as'shown, and therefore the movement case cannot be drawn by spring 31 back into normal position until the movement case has been turned by spring 14, or otherwise, into normal position; thereby I make it impossible for the movement case to be returned, after handsetting, in such posit-ion that the pin 11 cannot engage the lever 18 properly for spring winding.

It is frequently desirable to attach clocks of this sort to a suitable support by means of a concealed fastening, and to employ fastenings of such nature that a special key is re quired to operate it; it being then practically impossible to remove the clock from its support, except by means of the appropriate key. In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 I illustrate a key operated concealed fastening convenient for use on automobile clocks and the like. In said figures 35 designates a suitable support for a clock provided with a bracket 36; and 37 designates a screw revolubly mounted on the back or rear side of the base plate 1 of the clock which screw is adapted to engage a screw hole 38 of the bracket 36. Upon the screw 37 is mounted a bevel gear 38 and with this bevel gear engages another bevel gear 39 upon a shaft 40, the end of which is formed to be engaged by a suitable key, such end being Within a key socket 41. It will be obvious that by turning the shaft 40 by means of a suitable key the screw 37 may be disengaged from or engaged with the bracket 36. It will also beapparent that, since the outer end of the shaft 40 is within the key socket 41 it is impracticable to rotate the shaft 40 except by a key which will fit upon the end of shaft 40 and will fit within the key socket 41. It is therefore substantially impossible to remove the clock from its support, except with an appropriate key to be used for that purpose.

hat I claim is:

1. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, a spring winding ratchet wheel, an oscillatory actuating member therefor, pivotally mounted and provided with a ratchet engaging said ratchet wheel, and a stationary member arranged to engage said actuating member during oscillation of the movement case with reference to said base, and thereby to cause movement of said actuating member with reference to said movement case during oscillation of the latter.

2. A clock comprising in combination a base, .a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, a spring winding ratchet wheel, an oscillatory actuating member therefor, pivotally mounted and provided with a ratchet engaging said ratchet wheel, a stationary member with which said actuating member engages during oscillatory movement of the movement case with respect to said base in one direction, whereby said actuating member is caused to actuate the ratchet wheel during such oscillation of the movement case, and means for retracting said actuating member during movement of the movement case in the opposite direction.

3. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, a spring-winding ratchet wheel carried by the movement case and rotatably mounted, an actuating member therefor mounted to oscillate about the axis of said ratchet wheel and provided with a ratchet to engage said ratchet wheel, and a stationary post which said actuating member engages when said movement case is oscillated with respect to said base, whereby the said ratchet wheel is operated by forward and back oscillation of the movement case with reference to said base.

4. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with. reference to said base, a movement frame within said movement case, a spring winding ratchet wheel rotatably mounted upon said movement frame, the axis of said ratchet wheel being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the movement case, an actuating member for such ratchet wheel mounted between the movement frame and movement case and having a ratchet adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, and a pin projecting from said base through a slot in the movement case into engagement with said actuating member, whereby the ratchet wheel may be actuated by forward and back oscillation of the movement case with respect to said base.

5. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base, and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, winding mechanism for a movement so carried operated by oscillation of the movement case with respect to said base, a pin carried by said base, another pin carried by said movement case, and a spring connected to said pins and adapted to return the movement case to normal position.

6. A clock comprising a base, a movement case rotatable with respect to said base and also axially movable toward and from the base, a hand-driving gear train, and handsetting mechanism comprising an axially movable shaft, a gear thereon adapted to engage one of the gears of said hand-driving train but normally out of engagement therewith, another gear, a pinion engaging said last-mentioned gear and mounted upon said shaft, and a spring for moving said shaft axially when permitted so to do by axial movement of the movement case.

7. A clock comprising a base, a movement case rotatable with respect to said base and also axially movable toward and from the base, a hand-driving gear train, and handsetting mechanism comprising a gear carried by said base, an axially movable shaft carried by said movement case and provided with a gear in mesh with the said base gear, and with another gear adapted to mesh with one of the gears of said hand-driving train but normally out of engagement therewith, and a spring tending to press said shaft toward said base, whereby outward axial motion of the movement case results in axial movement of said shaft to bring the handsetting mechanism in engagement with the hand-driving train.

8. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base, and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, a spring winding ratchet wheel, an oscillatory actuating member therefor, pivotally mounted and provided with a ratchet pawl, a stationary member arranged to engage said actuating member during oscillation of the movement case with reference to said base and thereby to cause movement of said actuating member with reference to said movement case during oscillation of the latter, said movement case being axially movable, a hand-driving train, hand-setting mechanism carried by the movement case and normally out of engagement with said train but provided with means for engaging it with said train when the movement case is noved axially in one direction, the said stationary member adapted for engagement with the actuating member of the ratchet wheel being so proportioned that movement of the movement case toward hand-setting position disengages said stationary member from said actuating member.

9. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable about a central axis with respect to said base, and adapted to receive and carry the movement of said clock, a spring winding ratchet wheel, an oscillatory actuating member therefor, pivotally mounted and provided with a ratchet pawl, a stationary member arranged to engage said actuating member during oscillation of the movement case with reference to said base and thereby to cause movement of said actuating member with reference to said movement case during oscillation of the latter, said movement case being axially movable, a handdriving train, hand-setting mechanism carried by the moventent case and normally out of engagement with said train but provided with means for engaging it with said train when the movement case is moved axially in one direction, the said stationary member adapted for engagement with the actuating me1nber of the ratchet wheel being so proportioned that movement of the movement case toward hand-setting position disengages said stationary member from said actuating member, means for limiting the oscillatory movement of the movement case, said actuating member for the ratchet wheel having a breadth corresponding substantially to the predetermined range of oscillatory movement of the movement case, whereby return of said actuating member to engagement with said stationary member is possible only when the movement case is returned substantially to normal position.

10. A clock comprising in combination a base, a movement case rotatable with respect to said base, winding mechanism arranged to be actuated by oscillatory movement of said movement case with respect to said base, hand-setting mechanism arranged to be actuated by axial and oscillatory movement of said movement case with respect to said base, said movement case being provided with a hollow central boss, a sleeve within said boss, means connecting said sleeve to said base, and a spring between said sleeve and the end of said boss tending to draw the movement case axially toward the base.

11. The combination with a clock support having a screw threaded fastening aperture, of a clock having a rotatable fastening screw, adapted to engage said aperture, a gear connected to said screw and a shaft having a gear engaging the gear of said screw whereby by the rotation of said shaft said screw may be engaged wit-h and disengaged from said support.

12. The combination with a clock support having a screw threaded aperture, of a clock having a hollow base, a screw retatably mounted within said base and adaptspecification in the presence of two subscribe? to engage the screw threaded aperture ing witnesses. 0 said support, saic screw provided with a gear, and a shaft rot-atably mounted with- SAUL ARONSON' 0 in said hollow base and provided with a Witnesses:

gear engaging the'gear of such screw. H. M. MARBLE, In testimony whereof I have signed this PAUL H. FRANKE.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

' Washington, D. G. 

